DP History Questionbank

Description

This section analyses the political developments in the newly independent countries of South and Southeast Asia, after the Second World War. A tension developed between attachment to democratic institutions and free elections and the desire for strong government to prevent political divisions leading to partition and fragmentation, as eventually happened when Bangladesh was created out of East Pakistan. Ethnic and religious minorities existed to a greater or lesser extent in all countries of the region and posed a problem with regard to developing a sense of national identity and unity. Strong centralized government, often with military backing, was seen as a means of imposing a national ideology and maintaining national unity. Conversely, there was also the desire to have government ratified by national elections. This tension between democracy and centralized government was a common feature in the region.

• India: domestic policies and achievements of Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi

• Indo-Pakistani relations (including Kashmir); Indian foreign policy (including non-alignment); Sino-Indian relations

• Pakistan: domestic policies and achievements of Jinnah, Ayub Khan, Zulfikar Bhutto, Zia

• Religious issues in India and Pakistan

• Social and economic developments in India and Pakistan

• Developments in Indo-China: Vietnam 1955‑75, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Laos

• Case study of political, social and economic developments of two of the following: the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Directly related questions

• 16N.3op3.HL.TZ0.17:

  Evaluate the success of Zulfikar Bhutto’s domestic policies.

• 16N.3op3.HL.TZ0.18:

  With reference to two of the following countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, examine the factors that have helped and hindered their political development.